Zion Williamson is in 12 months six with the New Orleans Pelicans, and the one expectation is that his physique will all the time betray him.
It is occurring once more. The newest damage for Williamson — who has performed in solely six video games this season — is a left hamstring pressure. He final performed in a sport on Nov. 6. His standing for Monday’s sport at Atlanta (10-11) is unknown, one other blow for the struggling Pelicans, who’re final within the Western Convention (4-17).
This is not only one random damage. Health and conditioning have been a relentless concern since he was drafted first general within the 2019 NBA Draft.
Williamson has performed in 190 regular-season video games and missed 200 and counting. That is not supreme for a participant who was thought-about a franchise expertise.
When wholesome, Williamson is among the most fun gamers to look at. He is a two-time All-Star who has profession averages of 24.6 factors, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists. His expertise will not be in query.
Being a franchise participant who can lead at a championship degree requires extra, although. Thus far, Williamson hasn’t proven it. Well being and conditioning apart, a good query is: How has his sport advanced?
Williamson was larger, sooner and will leap increased than most in highschool and school. Whereas he is nonetheless capable of showcase his bodily presents, it could ring hole at occasions.
Williamson will not be confused for a sharpshooter or an elite creator. His deal with is serviceable however not elite. Williamson’s athletic presents are elite, however what elite basketball talent has he added to his sport?
Maybe that is the most important query in relation to projecting Williamson as a franchise participant for the Pelicans or another staff. Williamson is a 6-foot-6, 284-pounder in a league the place elite abilities are required.
Williamson’s worth could also be plummeting across the league due to his lack of sturdiness. One NBA govt recently told USA Today’s HoopsHype that he’d solely contemplate buying and selling one first-round choose for Williamson.
On a recent “Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective” podcast, ESPN’s Tim McMahon advised the staff ought to minimize Williamson, a extremely unlikely transfer.
“Situation A, the preferable state of affairs, is commerce him and get worth for him,” MacMahon stated. “I feel that is going to be extraordinarily tough to do given his damage historical past, given the truth that he seemed far much less explosive than he had been prior to now within the little bit that he performed this 12 months.”
Elite athleticism has a brief shelf life. At 4-17, the Pelicans and their followers could have to begin considering of life after Zion.
